In this video clip, CANADIAN CONTRACTOR’s Rob Koci and Steve Payne dip into the mail (um, e-mail) “bag” for some contractor reaction to our recent articles on Mike Holmes. In an interview published in the November issue of Reader’s Digest, the “third most trustworthy celebrity in the world” (behind Morgan Freeman and Ron Howard, according to Forbes magazine) dumps – yet again – on his fellow contractors. He says only 20 per cent of them are “good,” 70 per cent of them are “bad” and 10 per cent of them are “ugly” (presumably, he meant the quality of the work they do).
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peter forbes
November 6, 2012
I once worked for a contractor who hit upon a great idea to instill a dose of reality into his clients about the potential “surprises” that inevitably crop up when doing a reno. He would lend them a copy of a movie called “Mr. Blandings builds his dream house” with Cary Grant. This movie was also remade as “The money pit” but the original is funnier and is as apt today as it was when made back in the 50’s. It’s a must see for all contractors and clients.
Doug L
November 6, 2012
I am always amazed at these two issues with HonH.
1) The guilt, greed and consequential stupidity of the customer (a responsible? adult) picking a contractor driving an 85 VW Rabbit with a 4′ AL stepladder bungy corded to the roof to do his ‘full renovation of the Xth floor’ for $50,000 cheaper than the bona fide contractor(but as the homeowner asks….”how much can I save if I pay you cash?”. Then after the dogpile mess is left, Holmes is there heaping sympathy on the poor,, poor innocent homeowner…..
2) Yes, let’s look a the real cost of the job the HonH’s repairing. Most people spend $40-50,000 on a car that sits collecting rust in their front yard for 23 3/4 hours a day for an annual expense cost of $10,000 and over 5 years a 50% depreciation cost for a a total of $75,000 but think NOTHING of spending/wasting this money…….yet no %#@amn way am I spending that much on a contractor/tradesmen to begin with …….and now with Holmes the public STILL does not know what a fair, safe and legal job costs….
Most small contractors/self employed tradesmen loathe his show now because of the way he vilifies the tradesmen to the point they are all lumped into one pool of SOBs……while of course patting the moron that picked the $50,000 lower price to begin with that is TOTALLY without culpability in this whole mess and holds them up to be such a poor, poor innocent victim……..your reap what you sow!
jason
February 20, 2013
what I got from your rant was some common sense insights and alot of whining
Richard Diotte
November 6, 2012
I don’t know about anyone else, but we’re one of the 20%. The cream always rises to the top. But then, so does pond scum.
Lawrence Winterburn
November 6, 2012
Spade a Spade.
I stopped watching Holmes, to be candid, because though his interior work looked ok to me, his exterior was full of foolish and amateurish techniques and he simply didn’t know the basics of exterior work.
Robert– Please let me know when you want me to sit down and do an article about some of his outdoor work–going through video after video. Decks with some floating and some footings permanent, fence boards cut because they put the rails in the wrong height, no space between the boards and ground–(so the fence gets pushed out of the ground and torn to pieces), and of course–putting the fence boards on with screws.
Glass Houses… Stones.
L
Kris
November 22, 2012
I have had experience with at least 2 clients who were former Holmes T.V. clients. I was hired to remove the work done “properly” and redo the job as the client requested/needed. I mean linoleum in the bathroom for a handicaped woman? Really Mike? And the rest of us are the bad contractors…. right.
Howard Hussey
November 6, 2012
I am SICK of Mike Holmes. It is far easier to criticize other peoples work without knowing all the facts. I’ve watched his show and found things he is lame about. It must be nice for him to do his job without any concern about the money or time spent doing it. He even throws in all kinds of extras for free. My summary is 70 % of homeowners are at fault. 20% of contractors are at fault and 10% are a—holes like Mike Holmes. Get him off the air. Only 1% of the people could afford him in the real world.
Peter Danielis
November 20, 2012
Howard u and I would get along real well, because what you wrote is 100% good with me. I would like to add you never see him do any real work on the show but he sure likes wrecking things. I’d go man to man on him any time any job site any job. His customers bring out the violins because some fly by night does a job for $4000 bucks and mike makes it right for $50,000
Peter Danielis
November 21, 2012
Mike Holmes Is a movie star !
Howard Hussey
December 12, 2012
Movie Star ?? Archie Bunker ? Godzilla ? Freddy Krueger ? Add your own choice. Get rid of him. Mote guys like Brian Baumler would be OK
Michael St Jean
November 6, 2012
Well so 80% of us do not cut the mustard,shame on Readers Digest for printing that garbage.I wonder how many clients/customers are aware of past endorsement fees and requests for percentage of sales on products that where promoted on TV.
Please use Michael S. as my name in the comment
G. Parsons
November 6, 2012
Mike Holmes would never make it out there in the real world, His prices would be so astronomical! It is easy to criticize when you are just preaching. Those who know – do, those who don’t – teach!
GvB
November 6, 2012
It would be nice to see Holmes wear a hard hat once in awhile.
I wonder if he would be in business if he ever had to compete in the real marketplace. He is sponsored and supplied for marketing purposes. I do not think he could compete with a good contractor doing good work. He is all marketing hype.machine and can promote charity causes due to his marketing machine, not his contracting business. There is no need to run down the many good people in the building industry.
jason
February 20, 2013
you should bone up on what the media has to do to make a living. of course it is not all straightforward thats how they put on a good show.
Don Sturm
November 6, 2012
For the most part I think Mike Holmes blows dog for constantly pitching his super hero status!! There is no doubt terrible tradesmen like there is terrible lawyers and accountants etc. The whole point is Darwin ! By no if people still do not understand that they need to perform due dilegence. Tough
Ask a friend for a reference
Then ask the contractor about their last 3 jobs and if you can contact them
Google the guy, Facebook him. You can do a this stuff without even leaving your kitchen.
Reputation is everything to a legit contractor because you are only as good as your last job with reference.
Back to Holmes let people know it costs money to actually get quality work done.
jason
February 20, 2013
because there is alot of corrupt tradesmen that’s why his show is such a success its capitalizing on what some people pass for contracting work. I have bought an awful lot of used cars and for that I pay a fee to the seller. I have made some good purchases and some really bad onen Tell me thats not how it it in the construction industry?
Greg Hall
November 6, 2012
Has nobody stopped to consider that for Holmes to make such a statement, he would have to be aware of every job undertaken in Canada? An honest statement would begin with “From the work I’ve seen….” There are thousands and thousands of clients that are perfectly happy with their contractors, and in some cases loyal to a fault. Tarring everybody with the same brush does nothing but create a hostile environment between clients and contractors at the outset.
Because his show revolves around fixing someone elses screw ups, he needs to paint himself as the guy on the white horse. I want you all to consider the thousands of calls that were never made because of the competent and capable tradesmen that are currently in the market today who do it right already.
Steven Eisner
November 6, 2012
Mike Holes IWOULDN’T GET HIM TO BUILD MY DOG HOUSE!!! ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
He knows everything about nothing!!!!!
You get what you pay for!!!
AS John Ruskin an Architect once wrote:
Its unwise to pay too much.
But its worse to pay too little.
You lose a little money…that is all.
When you pay too little,
You sometimes lose everthing.
Because the thing you bought was incapapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.
THE COMMON LAW OF BUSINESS BALANCE PROHIBITS PAYING A LITTLE AND GETTING A LOT-
IT CAN’T BE DONE.
I think there is 75 percent good contractors 25 percent bad clients!!!!
jason
February 20, 2013
sounds logical
harry veenstra
November 6, 2012
it’s easy to fix someone elses mistakes even more so when money doesnot matter
client s normally have no idea what it really takes to do a job-if they did they would do it themselves
If he’s so prefect why isn’t he in the real world of contracting?
The Reno Coach
November 6, 2012
Wow there are a lot of harsch words here for Mike Homes. I never meet the Man but would like to but him up to a changes on a real live Job to see how good he really is.
Thx
The Reno Caoch
Harvey Rountree
November 7, 2012
I have read the comments about Mike Holmes. Actually i like the show and I take it as the entertainment that it is though. I appreciate his attention to detail, however his educating the”homeowner” leaves much to be desired. How can you in a hour with tidbits of information inform anyone of the true factors involved in any job from start to finish.Every part of a job has a process and the real time it takes,not crammed into segments.. Who in the real world can possibly show up to a house renovation with 10 to 20 workers as he often does and then average 12 plus hour days and thats beside the contractors he also hires. Money seems to be no object to him,that may be fine in his world but not the real one.One thing I do find funny it seems he has never met the homeowner from you know where,sure many have.I know one thing if money was no object one job at a time would be just great.
Alex Keaton
November 7, 2012
Mike Holmes sure does good work but when you are not accountable to price or schedule, it is a pretty easy assignment. As a contractor for 20 years, it seems funny to me that this guy can “over design” each of the structures he builds and make people believe that they can get the same for virtually no money.
Randy Corning
November 7, 2012
I feel in light of the Readers Digest article it is time to put the Amish on the HoH show as well as HGTV.This Tv show with this continuous dribble does not have the best interests of the Canadian public or the Contracting community at heart.I have great respect for the community aid which this show has provided to many through troubled times.However I am tired of a front man with his head up his A– constantly whining and demeaning many good trades people out there.I really feel he has no genuine respect for other trades .This comes across in his atitude towards other trades work ,technical knowledge and promotions.Its time to abandon HGTV ,they are starting to suck.
Robert Breault
November 7, 2012
Hey I think that we should give Mike Holmes the Order of Canada and all contractors should pitch in and buy him something really nice. (Kidding seriously)
I and most contractors would really like a camera crew discreetly following us around every day to show the real “Reality” of what happens on the job.
I believe that most contractors put their best foot forward and know that they are judged by what they did on their last job, so it’s in there best interest to do well by their clients; especially if they want to continue to be in the business.
If you want a great professional job done hire a great professional.
If you want a cheap job done hire a cheapskate.
If you want a full time contractor hire a contractor that is in the business to do business on a full time basis.
Infinitum ad nausem.
Oh and Mike it only stands to reason that your opinion is as such; when you become the savior to not only the needy but to the clueless. Guess who your going to hear from (the people that need saving either because of a truly bad contractors or from sheer stupidity)
Carlo Perez
November 7, 2012
There’s no question that Mike Holmes is NOT superhero
Send this to anyone who thinks so…
http://hammerati.com/superhero-vs-contractor
It gives homeowners stats on the real state of business in Canadian renovations (i.e. that the majority of them are done on-time and in-budget).
chad woods
November 8, 2012
I’ve been in business for 17yrs and come from a long list of family carpenters dating back centuries (all have apprenticed with master carpenters) Its time to quit selling bullshit! Put it this way if Mike is such a great renovater then why did he go broke and why was he working for someone when he was recruited by HGTV? Hes a typical sales man. People who dont know anything and need to beleive something, love him.(they think he’s on tv,he must be good, because he tells you so)
Mike is not even a trades person!
” Doin it right, with unlimited funds” should be his new quote”
If i charged out all of Mikes hours on his show , l would never get another job!
If hes “doing it right” the audience should see the final price on each episode!
If we all had what he now has “unlimited funds” then any donkey could learn as they go and run a crew and be succesful .
l think we would all like to hear from Mikes previous customers as to how his work performance was and final price.(when he was in business long before the show happened)
To weed out unqaulified builders/renovators, license them! And make them accountable.
Jeff Maude
November 8, 2012
I don’t agree with the 80% comment…it’s more like 30% suck.
chris
November 8, 2012
I realize it’s TV and I realize the show is FOR the general public and homeowner and NOT the general Contractor (nor anyone in the trades)
The homeowners who are SURE that all trades are gouging them and standing ready to rip them off at every turn. They are the viewer ship and THEY must be pandered to in order to keep them tuning in. Everyone likes to be shown/told they were right, see, those blue collar yahoo’s are ALL the same (or at least 80% of them are) Only once do I remember Holmes, during one of the first episodes, mention what THEY had just done might have cost the client. It likely didn’t go over well, since it was easily double what the couple had agreed to with “Joe has a hammer and a saw” construction co, and they still thought it too high and were getting robed! TV motto: never make your viewership look stupid:)
Of course Holmes and the network have a right to slant their show in any direction they wish BUT, if it’s in the direction of the poor homeowner who didn’t know they couldn’t get a state of the art bathroom for less then a couch, don’t then stand up Mr. Holmes and say your all for the new kids coming up in the trades. How the trades need fresh blood to take the place of us older fella’s heading towards (if not retirement) slowing down. Don’t give talks at Community Colleges to kids attending trades courses and pretend to be on their side or representing and defending a trade that struggles daily to educate the public on WHY things cost a lot in this world (yes Sir, that hamburger at Wendy’s costs more then if you made it yourself…. and do you need me to explain to you WHY???)
If he were in the contractors corner at all, he wouldn’t just state things like how a good contractor would tell the client that the garage should be spray foamed… most good guys likely do just that but they KNOW most clients will NOT pay (as Holmes insists they would if they only knew, HA!) A good contractor may even give them the price, with and without but you know pretty well what most will pick… the lower price. Spray foam the GARAGE??? Who cares! Honey, if we don’t do that we can buy that sub zero fridge we’ve been eyeing for the new kitchen”
I liked “Real Reno”, I liked Jim, was “real”. He truly reminded me of some of the bigger contractors and as in the REAL world, the clients where shown to change their minds on a regular basis, the complaints on both sides flowed, the costs went over and the deadlines extended by months, not a day or two…. and Jim showed up only when it was time to collect the payments and it was a darnn entertaining show!!!! My favorite part…. when the homeowner stuck up a cardboard sign on the job site saying “no more extra’s” and Jim crossed it out and wrote, “no more changes”. Where is that show?? Gone. It did not paint the OWNER, the viewer, in the nicest light most times, they were NOT the victim. Holmes though, is still here….
Steve
November 10, 2012
@ Mr G Parsons , who taught you ? . I resent that comment you made about those of us that have taken the time to TEACH and mentor the next generation of trades . Being a tradesman is not just a mastery of your trade or craft but a stewardship of the accumulated knowledge of many generations of those that went before us . You Sir are a buffoon, to even dare to use Holmes name in any statement about teaching . As far as I know from my own sources MH is a HANDYMAN , not a tradesman of any sort .
BTW , I do TEACH and I have been ” Doing ” for over 30 yrs .
alec caldwell
November 12, 2012
Great video, great subject and we’ve blogged it to other organizations in oeder to get more feed back on Mike Homes. Keep up the good work Steve & Rob and the Canadian Contractor and our great sponsors.
Cheers,
Alec Caldwell@CARAHS
Toll free 1-866-366-2930 Visit at http://www.carahs.org
CARAHS is a non profit Association delivering Safety, Education & Benefits to Self employed Contractors, Renovators, Builders, Trades & Home Services
Jackie Nordeman
November 13, 2012
As an interior decorator I am often involved, along with my clients, in the construction process. I USED to hang on Mr. Holmes’ every word because Holmes shares a lot of his knowledge with his viewers and you feel a little more educated after having watched one of his shows. However; Mike’s increasing contractor- bashing; knit-picking; commando-style “I-know-it-all”, “this isn’t right!” approach has me tuning him out! Sadly, regardless if Mike realizes it or not, he is turning a lot of people off of him as a person and I can’t help but feel that he is burning a lot of bridges along the way. There is no doubt that Mike Holmes knows his stuff, but his once kind and caring persona has morphed into a self-glorifying, egotistical maniac. Because it’s television, we have to recognize that a lot happens behind the scenes but from THIS viewers perspective…the homeowner has NO CHOICE in what “Makes it Right”, it’s Mike’s way or the highway! Oh! By-the-way, if you want to really LEARN something about construction, give Brian Baeumler a try, now that guy can teach!
alec Caldwell
November 13, 2012
I thought I’d share the following comment made in response to this article from Leo Reise, part of the LinkedIn group: NATIONAL WHOLESALE PLUMBING, HEATING & HVAC GROUP. Lets hear your comment on his remarks?
Thanks: Alec Caldwell@CARAHS
Leo Reise says:
First – One must remember that Mike Homes business is his TV sales. Yes he is a contractor and was probably a good one – but his hype sells his program – sort of a “Don Cherry” of contracting. Having said that, he does illustrate a number of very good points, I have also seen how some ‘contractors’ perform and Homes is correct, their work is just plain ‘ugly’.
Alec Caldwell
November 13, 2012
I thought I’d share some more of the comments we received in response to our posting of this article. Cheers Alec Caldwell@CARAHS http://www.carahs.org
Erin E. from the Canadian Home Staging and Decorating LinkedIn group says:
“I quickly checked this out and I have to agree with some of the comments made. I don’t believe that 70% of contractors are bad. Honestly, if everyone had the unlimited budgets that are shown on the show, then, of course, everything would be perfect. Homeowners have to be educated, and I think that the show should be more geared toward that rather than bashing contractors”
Wayne Christopher, RHI, NHI from the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) LinkedIn group says: “Looked like a pretty even split of those that agree and disagree with Mr. Holmes from the video piece. As a professional home inspector who turned down the opportunity to be one of Mr. Holmes inspectors a few years back I would have to say there are more bad, unqualified, fly-by-night contractors out there than well trained legitimate ones and their work isn’t that hard to detect”
Jeff Grenz at the Builder LinkedIn group says “When Holmes talks about poor work, he’s often lumping together the poor work of unlicensed, unqualified IMHO. I do like the quality of his work on the show. I can’t watch most of the other home improvement shows for more than 10-20 minutes without seeing incorrect advice”
Michael Luckado at the Builder LinkedIn group says: “Mike Holmes is looking for ratings and his 70/10 statement is just another way to get people to listen or watch. I would love to ask his past customers how satisfied they are…maybe somebody should do a story on that. In one episode he pulls down an entire ceiling of an old house because it was 1/2 inch out of level. The house had settled but was 100% structurally sound. I personally wouldn’t have paid for that as a homeowner”
Alec Caldwell
November 13, 2012
I thought I’d add a few more reply’s we received on this hot subject . From Alec Caldwell @ http://www.carahs.org
Wolfgang Wintersteiner from the Contractor Discussion LinkedIn group for Plumbers, Electricians said:
“ Big words when you have an entire TV production crew and a huge budget and limitless resources for your show. If the 70% statement were true, I’m sure that the government would have gotten involved by now, plus where are the building inspectors to check up on the quality and safety of the workmanship? I’ve never been sued, gone to court, or had someone call the BBB because of my quality of work. If the work is beyond my capability or needs a larger crew, I do my best to find a contractor who can properly do the work and with whom I feel comfortable with doing the job. As my reputation for the referral is on the line also. Get a mirror and get real”
and Patrick Flanagan from the same group said”
“If we all had the resources provided to Holmes, we would all be heroes in our own little FANTASY worlds… Why doesn’t he try living in the real for a while?!? We have all seen our share of work that shouldn’t have been done on a doll house, never mind a human habitat! Take this “Jerk” for lack of other words I can’t write and stuff him in a deep dark place…haha We self employed, hard working, reputation building contractors, have had enough of his bad mouthing crap!!!!!”
Steve Allen
November 13, 2012
Like others above, I have watched the show often enough. I am primarily an outside contracotr and of course I see all the mistakes. There was a roof-top deck with a railing that was blatently non code compliant.
There was a brick retaining wall built right up to a sidewalk- 3 ft over the proeprty line.
A large deck built on deck blocks. A massive fence job with maybe 50 homeowners, with huge problems: poor spacing, poor stepping, arbitrary joints, you name it.
A double decker porch on two levels: incorrect supports, beams in adequately fastened, incorrect railings.
If you are going to put yourself out to the public, at least do the job in question correctly.
Unfortunately, all of Holme’s efforts to teach people to stay away from the lowest bifdder doesn’t really work. I recently lost a
$30,000 deck to someone who quoted $16,000.00. The material alone was $14000, so whomever was going to build it for that was going to gross less than 1/3 of what I pay my men, not to mention insurance, workers comp, etc.
The homeowners had 2 more quotes in my range, but still went with the lowball.
Imgine that
Fred Patterson
November 18, 2012
Mike Holmes has been a black mark to all good contractor since he started every time we go on a call we are painted as bad by Mike and find ourselves having to prove our selves. Should small problem come up during construction the client starts getting freaked out never mind we are professionals. Mike has done more to undermine the honest contractor out there than good. Yes I too can point out all the mistake he makes on his show but the worst was that disaster down in new Orleans. Framing that house the whole world was laughing at us thinking that was how we frame houses. Forget the fact that stupid his what stupid dose but to show where his mind is at it was over 100 degrees and with great fan fare he hands out his new mike Holmes 20lb tool belt, I have no use for this guy and the more of us the send email to his sponsors and tv network maybe the time will come when he will go back to being bankrupt and out of work so we can continue. To provide the quality workmanship that most Canadian contractors provide.
Fred Patterson.
Custom1contracting.com
Bill Hyndman
November 22, 2012
I I agree 100 per cent, there are higher bad contractors, then good. And yes Holmes makes a good $ focusing on the outstanding moronic performance by the elite. Keep up the good work Mike Holmes!! Its important to indicate the actual costs involved to correct a project gone wrong. Again, love the fous holmes brings. B.
Howard Hussey
December 12, 2012
You sound like your just as stupid as Mike Holmes.
GFP
December 13, 2012
It is “you’re”, not “your”!
Steve Payne
December 13, 2012
Your absolutely right
Denise Power
May 16, 2013
I am a home owner and have been so for six years, when we bought our home we had two inspections , both passed with only a few minor issues that we addressed and fixed right away. We were grossly let down , we have had to hire contractors to come in twice , we did not take the lowest bids , we checked with others who had hired them and believed in both cases we had made good choices , we were wrong , at first the work looked good and we were happy , sadly a lot of bad work was made to look nice and soon fell apart , we are now in dire financial straits because both inspectors and contractors have let us down , when a home owner hires you they put a great deal of trust into your abilities, this is not a toaster your working on its someone’s home , We are a family of five , I have medical issues , getting the money to fix all the issues took a great deal of time and effort and did not actually fix them , I see a great deal of people saying its 70% home owner stupidity , I would like to see these people have to pay a mortgage and rent for a year because a contractor did not do there job, I am a trained chef NOT! a contractor , I don’t know how to fix a home that’s why I hire a contractor and trust in them the people who do know not to screw me over but sadly it does happen with far to much regularity, If Mike Homes sensationalism about bad contractors and inspectors changes the rules and makes things better I say all the luck to him because I never want someone to have to go threw what my family and I have had to go threw these last few years.
Bruce MacKinnon
December 3, 2012
Am I the only one who wonders who can afford Mike Holmes? Yeah he shows shoddy work, but can your customers afford 15 people swarming over their house with the latest and greatest materials and techniques?
How about some reality people? It’s almost as if you have to have a MH defence jacket on when you go to see your prospects. Be legit, show your papers and a list of happy customers and let your work do the talking, not MH.
sean mackowiak
December 5, 2012
i just witnessed a mike holmes endorsed spray insulation company do the most horrific job ever the insulation was out past the studs allot so they came back hacked all the excess off while hacking thru the bran new electrical wiring good job boys …..clearly mike was not talking about this company in the 70 percent as his picture and endorsement are on the side of the truck…..
Ream
March 12, 2013
I wonder if there is a correlation to MH having the discussion with the current Ontario government back in 2009 and recently my receiving “the” letter from Ontario Colleges of Trades. If so, why am I going to pay an extravagant annual licensing fee for someone else making mistakes.
Glen
April 6, 2013
Hey Steve, you ever pick up a tool before? Its easy to have an opinion about someone when you don’t know them. The truth is that Mike will give the shirt off his back for homeowners. The home owners pay a VERY small percentage for the work to be done. The trades do work pro bono as a way of great ads for their companies. Google 10 contractors in Toronto, check the work out and then you do the %. There are 10′s of thousands of contractors in the GTA alone. Do you really think that 50% of them are good? Do you know how easy it is to put a sticker on your car and be a GC.
Do some research when you give your input
Robert Koci
April 6, 2013
Do YOU know Mike? You seem to have a pretty strong opinion about him. Where do you know him from? TV? Give me a break.
Jack
April 14, 2013
Wow, what a bunch of whiners. Mike shows just how bad MOST of you are, and you complain about it, instead of doing something about it. STOP being part of the problem. STOP taking the money and running. If you whiners think you know better, then prove it, like he does, every single day. He is a true professional, and remember, it is a TV show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!